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Starting from October 16, Hotel Vista Real, located at kilometer 9 of the road to El Salvador, will form part of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts chain.

As part of the change of brand the hotel underwent modifications to its infrastructure, with its 130 rooms having been completely remodeled as over the last ten monthsand the estimated investment in the works amounted to $4 million.

Even without having resolved their border dispute, both countries are working on joint projects including the facilitation of tourist traffic in both territories.

In order to improve relations between the two countries, it is expected that next December a roadmap will be ratified which contains at least 15 bilateral agreements on energy, tourism, education, cultural affairs, environmental, security, temporary workers, cooperation in justice, migration, etc.

The promotional campaign announced by the government has been described as antiquated and lacking a proper communication strategy.

The campaign to promote the country, presented yesterday by the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT), left doubts among tourism operators, who say it is outdated and lacks a proper communication strategy.

Af the end of the second exhibition for tour operators projections are that $5.7 million has been transacted in business deals which will materialize in the medium term.

This was confirmed by Ana Mercedes de Lembke, president of the Guatemalan Chamber of Tourism (Camtur). The activity which ended yesterday, included 1,145 business meetings between 40 local tourist service companies and international buyers from 15 countries where Guatemala was not included as a tourist destination.

From 10 to 16 October there will be a meeting of wholesalers and tour operators to promote the country's tourist destinations.

The event will be held at the Hotel Barceló Guatemala City. So far 1,600 appointments have been arranged , and projections are that deals will be closed worth $4 million, according to the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT).

Insecurity and the economic crisis in Europe are the reasons that only the site of Tikal is maintaining its usual flow of visitors.

Even though from June to August is the peak season for tourism in Europe and North America, operators in the sector have reported a decrease in the number of visitors, especially in the regions of Tikal, Peten, Guatemala Antigua, Sacatepequez, and Panajachel, Solola.

Local operators are negotiating via the Internet with European tour operators, selling the country as a destination for conventions, congresses and incentive trips.

In total 25 companies participated in a virtual exhibition tour along with operators in Europe which concluded yesterday, however, the link www.guatemalaexpo.com/2013/ will continue to operate for a month. "The event was held under the framework of the III Virtual Tourism Fair, organized by the Chamber of Tourism (Camtur)", reported Prensalibre.com.

With the European crisis and the fall in the number of visitors from that region, the Guatemalan Tourist industry is promoting itself in emerging countries and others where there are travelers with high purchasing power.

Pedro Pablo Duchez, director of the Guatemalan Institute, Inguat, spoke at the opening of the Travel Market, saying,

The event is being organized by the Guatemalan Chamber of Tourism and the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, and aims to be a window for promoting the country as a tourist destination and a platform for generating business among participants in the tourism sector.

The number of American tourists received from January to August 2012 was 7.1% lower than in the same period of 2011.

When taking into account all sources of tourists, there has been a slight rise of 2%.

Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "According to Inguat, between January and August a total of 1,270,809 tourists arrived in the country, an increase of 2 percent versus the same period in 2011, when 1,246,066 tourists arrived. "

Guatemala's hotel sector is concerned about lack of inclusion of the tourism category within the country’s investment promotion policies.

The first version of the National Competitiveness Agenda excludes the tourism sector, confirmed Jaime Day, director of the National Competitiveness Program, who said it would be added in the new version of the agenda.